Windload applicator and stabilizer for steerable front wheels of rear-engined vehicles

ABSTRACT

In an airfoil windload applicator for automatically increasing traction between the tires of the steerable front wheels of a rear-engined vehicle and the pavement in increments dependent upon acceleration of speed of such vehicle relative thereto an airfoil member pivotally mounted adjacent and relative to a flat pan bottom and spring loaded means for supporting the airfoil member at a normally raised position, but yieldable for increased inclination and greater downward pressure of such tires upon the pavement.

Unite States atent Inventor Donald A. Swauger 20616 Blackhawk St.,Chatsworth, Calif. 91311 Appl. No. 28,654

Filed Apr. 15, 1970 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 WINDLOAD APPLICATOR ANDSTABILIZER FOR STEERABLE FRONT WHEELS OF REAR-ENGINED VEHICLES 8 Claims,5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 296/1 S, 280/150 R Int. Cl 862d 37/00 Field of Search 296/] S;

180/1 FV;280/l50, 150 C, 150D [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,036,560 4/l936 Backus 296/l S Primary Examiner Benjamin HershAssistant Examiner-Winston H. Douglas Atlorney- Leslie M. HansenABSTRACT: In an airfoil windload applicator for automatically increasingtraction between the tires of the steerable front wheels ofarear-engined vehicle and the pavement in increments dependent uponacceleration of speed of such vehicle relative thereto an airfoil memberpivotally mounted adjacent and relative to a flat pan bottom and springloaded means for supporting the airfoil member at a normally raisedposition, but yieldable for increased inclination and greater downwardpressure of such tires upon the pavement.

PATENTEDHUY 9 |97| SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR DONALD A. SWA 0652 WINDLOADAPPLICATOR AND STABILIZER FOR STEERABLE FRONT WHEELS OF REAR-ENGINEDVEHICLES BACKGROUND This invention relates to airfoil stabilizers forsmall rear-engined vehicles and more particularly to a windloadapplicator therefor.

Since the instruction of lightweight, compact rear-engined vehicles ithas become a problem for a driver thereof to control steering especiallyat high speeds. As is well known such vehicles have a trunk-typefore-end with a completely closed bottom. Turbulent air currents rushingunder such vehicle between the closed bottom and the pavement tend tolift the front wheels resulting in light traction and difficulty incontrolling steering. The vehicle known as a VOLKSWAGON is especiallyvulnerable to such difficulty in steering, especially at high speeds.This is due to lack of weight up front and the general character of thevehicle's solid bottom pan construction being subjected to an uplift bywind forces passing beneath the vehicle.

Numerous attachments have been made to provide an airfoil beneath thefront end of such vehicles to create a reduced pressure area thereunderat high speeds in an attempt to force the front wheels more firmly downupon the pavement. All of the prior known airfoil attachments have beenof a type fixed between the front wheels of the vehicle. In other words,such known airfoils remain at a fixed angular disposition and dependsolely upon the wind speed to create the downward thrust.

THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention contemplates the provisionof an airfoil and mount therefor by which to achieve automatic changesin angular disposition of the airfoil dependent upon airspeed. It is anobject of the present invention to provide an airfoil and mount thereforby which the airfoil assumes various positions of inclination as thespeed of vehicle increases.

In this connection it will be appreciated that the airfoil remainsrelatively ineffective during city driving or in heavy trafiic. However,when driving at higher speeds on a freeway or expressway the airfoilautomatically assumes an angular disposition to enhance the traction ofthe steerable front wheels relative to the pavement.

It is another object to provide an airfoil conforming to the width ofthe vehicle and the contour of the front bumper of the vehicle duringparking or normal and slow speed operation of the vehicle. In thisobject it is contemplated that the airfoil be hingedly supported andspring-loaded by a mechanism calculated to yield to wind pressuresapplied to the airfoil.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the following description in the lightof the accompanying two sheets of drawing in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of the front end of a vehiclehaving the airfoil of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1; partially in section for purposeofillustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail section centrally of FIG. 1 and thatportion of FIG. 2 related to the airfoil;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the airfoil of FIGS. 1 and 2, thevehicle being sectionally disclosed; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4 showing the airfoil and parts of thevehicle associated therewith.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings the rear engine vehicle Vdepicted is that of the VOLKSWAGON manufacture. It is with a vehicle ofsuch design and characteristics that the present invention is bestadapted for use. The vehicle V has a body B provided with a hinged lid Lat its fore end F for gaining access to a truck T within the body. Thevehicle V has a pan-type bottom P which usually spans the entire lengthand width of the body. The trunk T is disposed between the two frontwheels W which are coupled to a steering mechanism M controlable fromthe driverss compartment in a conventional manner. A tie bar or rod Rextends across the body B beneath the pan P in a zone between the twofront wheels W. A bumper D is supported in a conventional manner onbrackets (not shown) across the front end F of the body B in a planecomparable to that of the bottom pan P usually at the axle level of thewheels W. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 the trunk T is formed betweenfront fenders or mud guards G which are symmetrical to the longitudinalaxis A of the vehicle.

It is due to this solid bottomed body B that air flowing into the spacebetween the bottom pan P and the surface S of the highway that the frontend of the vehicle is lifted slightly off of the pavement. This reducestraction of the tires on the pavement and induces faulty steerability ofthe vehicle at high speeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention seeks to overcome theunstable condition created by airflow under the front, steerable end ofsuch a vehicle by the provision of a self-adjusting airfoil l0 therefor.

The airfoil 10 comprises a flat vanelike member ll of solid materialsuch as pressed wood, MASONITE and/or aluminum contoured in a particularmanner. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 the member 11 has a forwardedge 12 conforming substantially to the curvature of the front bumper Dof the vehicle V. The member 11 is ofa length to span the width of thevehicle V such that the extreme ends 13 and 13' of the member 11 areadapted to be disposed just ahead of the front wheels W of the vehicleV. The extreme ends 13-13 preferably have a straight back edge 14-14,respectively in the zone of the front wheels W and a concaved back edge15 between them is somewhat parallel to the curvature of the forwardedge 12.

The member 11 is symmetrically formed relative to an axisa-transverse toits width and adapted to be disposed in a plane congruent to thelongitudinal axis A of the vehicle V. The member 11 is attached to thevehicle V by means ofa pair of brackets 16-16 each secured equidistantsidewise from the axis-a-l6 are pivotally connected as at 17-17 to thedepending arm 18-18, respectively, of an angle bracket 19-19 having abolt 20-20 extending upwardly therefrom. The bolts 20-20 are adapted toextend upwardly through holes provided in the chassis and bottom pan Pof the vehicle V and are secured thereto by a nut 21-21, respectively.It should here be noted that vehicles of the VOLKSWAGON" manufacturealready have such holes existing and ready to receive the bolts 20-20.The member 11 is thus supported adjacent the underside U of the vehiclepan P for articulation about the axis of the pivotal connections 17-17'between the brackets 16-19 and l6'l9' respectively.

Means 25 is provided for yieldably supporting the airfoil member 11 in anormally raised position adjacent the underside U of the bottom pan P ofthe vehicle to which it is attached. The yieldable means 25 is a springloaded ram 26 having its one end 27 pivotally connected to the member 11and its opposite end 28 pivotally connected to a fixed portion of thevehicle rearwardly of the fore end F thereof. In the present disclosuresuch a fixed portion is provided by the tie bar or rod R which extendsacross the body B beneath the pan P and between the two front wheels Was shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5.

The spring loaded ram 26 of the yieldable means 25 preferably comprisesa cylindrical body 30 having its after end 28 closed by a cap secured toone wing 31 of a hinge 32 the opposite wing 33 of which consists of aspring clip adapted to be fastened over the tie bar R as best seen inFIG. 3. A compression spring 34 is arranged in the cylinder with its aftend based against the capped end 28. The fore end of the spring 34 bearsagainst a plug 35 which is guided piston fashion within the cylinder 30.The plug 35 is secured between a pair of nuts 36-36 on the threaded end37 of a push rod 38. The rod 38 is guided for sliding movementconcentrically of the cylinder 30 through a Teflon sleeve 39 suitablysecured to cap 40 on the fore end of the cylinder 30. The rod 38 has itsopposite or free end pivotally connected as at 27 to a trunnion bracket41 adjacent the forward edge 12. The bracket 41 is secured to theunderside of the member ll along its axis-a which is midway the pivotalconnections 17' between the member 11 and the vehicle V.

As previously mentioned the airfoil member I1 is normally supported in araised position adjacent the underside U of the bottom pan P of thevehicle. This is accomplished by the compressive strength of the spring34 and angular disposition of the ram' 26 between the member 11 and thefixed portion R of the vehicle. In the present disclosure thecompression spring 34 is calculated to exert a thrust of approximately25 pounds per square inch. As best illustrated in FIG. 3 the normaldisposition of fore-end of the airfoil member ll is approximately l5below horizontal, i.e. the plane of the bottom pan P of the vehicle V.

Under normal drive conditions within city limits and in traffic atspeeds from zero to 35 miles per hour the member 1 l is disposed toremain in normally raised position as above explained. However, as thespeed of the vehicle is increased a wind load is exerted against themember ll. It should here be noted that normally the major inclinationof the member ll is along its transverse axisa, the forward edge 12'rising slightly to either side toward the extreme ends 13-13 of theairfoil member 1 1. Thus it will be appreciated that the oncoming aircreated by a windload against the airfoil 10 is pocketed at centerbetween the member 11 and the underside U of the vehicle V. Therefore,as the speed of the vehicle is increased beyond 35 miles per hour thepressure of the oncoming air is scooped up centrally of and against theairfoil it counteracts the thrust of the spring loaded ram 26. Thereforewhen the speed of the vehicle reaches 35 miles per hour the spring 34yields, but only to the extent of holding the member 11 at aninclination of approximately below horizontal at a speed just over 35miles per hour. Correspondingly with each increment of speed the angulardisposition of the fore-end of the airfoil ll increases in inclinationbelow horizontal until the yieldability of the spring 34 reaches alimit, wherein the foreend of the airfoil is at a limit of approximately45 relative to the horizontal. The ranges of speed in miles per hour inrelation to the inclination of the airfoil in degrees below horizontalare exemplified in FIG. 3. This is by way of example only and as notedfrom actual experience on an average number of installations in whichthe airfoil 10 of the present invention has been applied. Suffice it tosay that the arrangement is such as to afford automatic changes ininclination of the airfoil relative to and below horizontal dependentupon changes in speed of the vehicle to which the airfoil is applied.

This automatic increase in inclination of the airfoil membercommensurate with acceleration of the vehicle results in a downwardthrust on the airfoil which presses the front end of the vehicle towardthe pavement. Accordingly this increases the downward pressure of thefront tires against the pavement resulting in better and greatertraction between the steerable front wheels as the speed of the vehicleis increased. Not only is the steering of the more stabilized, butbraking action thereof is enhanced due to the increase in tractionbetween the tires of the two front wheels relative to the pavement.Moreover wind sway normally experienced with such rear engined vehiclesdue to passing trucks or caused by crosswinds on expressways andfreeways is less likely to happen and the wind sway is practicallyeliminated by reason of the increase in traction at the front steerablewheels.

While the foregoing adjustable wind load applicator airfoil has beenexplained in specific detail it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the same may be altered, modified and/or varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention therein as called for in thefollowing claims.

What 1 claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent l. Awindload applicator for the solid pan-bottomed truck front end of a rearengined vehicle for urging the front steera- 5 ble wheels thereof towardpavement and comprising:

a. an airfoil b. means adjacent the aft-end of the airfoil for pivotallymounting said airfoil on the solid pan-bottomed front end of suchvehicle and transversely the longitudinal axis of such vehicle; and

c. yieldable means for supporting said airfoil in varying positionsranging from a normal position of slight inclination relative to thesolid pan bottom front end of the vehicle to l a lower limit ofinclination of approximately 45 relative to the solid pan bottom frontend of the vehicle and adapted to yield upon application of windloads tosaid airfoil whereby the latter assumes increments in inclination fromsaid normal position to said lower limit of inclination as the speed oftravel of said vehicle increases. 2. The windload applicator inaccordance with that of claim 1 in which said airfoil comprises:

a flat elongated member symmetrically formed on each side of atransverse axis thereof disposed congruent to the longitudinal axis ofsuch vehicle and having a forward edge depressed at such transverse axisand curving upwardly toward terminal ends for providing a pocketlikerecess at such transverse axis for scooping air toward center of saidairfoil.

3. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 2 in whichsaid terminal ends are upturned slightly and extend equidistantlaterally from such transverse axis thereof toward a position forwardlyof the front steerable wheels of such vehicle.

4. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 2 in whichsaid means for pivotally mounting said airfoil comprises:

a. a pair of brackets secured to said airfoil member in spaced relationequidistant from the transverse axis of the latter and extendingrearwardly thereof:

b. an angle clip having a depending leg pivotally connected to therearward extension of each of said brackets;

c. bolt means on each of said angle clips adapted to extend upwardlythrough holes provided in the solid pan bottomed front end of thevehicle; and

d. nut means within the trunk of the vehicle for securing said bolts tosaid solid pan-bottomed trunk.

5. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 4 in whichsaid yieldable means comprises:

a. a pressure-regulated cylinder having its after end hingedly connectedto a fixed portion of the vehicle rearwardly of the front end thereof,

b. a piston and piston rod guided within said cylinder with such pistonrod extending forwardly of said cylinder; and

c. means adjacent the forward edge of said airfoil member for pivotallyconnecting the free end of said piston rod thereto.

6 6. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 2 in whichsaid yieldable means comprises:

a. a pressure-regulated cylinder having its after end hingedly connectedto a fixed portion of the vehicle rearwardly of Q the front end thereof;

b. a piston and piston rod guided within said cylinder with such pistonrod extending forwardly of said cylinder; and

c. means adjacent the forward edge of said airfoil member for pivotallyconnecting the free end of said piston rod thereto.

7. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 6 in whichsaid means for pivotally mounting said airfoil comprises:

a. a pair of arms secured to said airfoil member in spacedl relationequidistant from the transverse axis of thelatter and extendingrearwardly thereof;

b. a pair of brackets secured to the solid pan-bottomed trunk front ofsuch vehicle and pivotally connected to the rearward extension of eachof said arms on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of suchvehicle.

8. The windload applicator in accordance with that of claim 5 7 in whichsaid yieldable means comprises a spring means confined within saidcylinder between the hinged end thereof and the piston therein.

8 t I! I! II

1. A windload applicator for the solid pan-bottomed truck front end of arear engined vehicle for urging the front steerable wheels thereoftoward pavement and comprising: a. an airfoil b. means adjacent theaft-end of the airfoil for pivotally mounting said airfoil on the solidpan-bottomed front end of such vehicle and transversely the longitudinalaxis of such vehicle; and c. yieldable means for supporting said airfoilin varying positions ranging from a normal position of slightinclination relative to the solid pan bottom front end of the vehicle toa lower limit of inclination of approximately 45* relative to the solidpan bottom front end of the vehicle and adapted to yield uponapplication of windloads to said airfoil whereby the latter assumesincrements in inclination from said normal position to said lower limitof inclination as the speed of travel of said vehicle increases.
 2. Thewindload applicator in accordance with that of claim 1 in which saidairfoil comprises: A flat elongated member symmetrically formed on eachside of a transverse axis thereof disposed congruent to the longitudinalaxis of such vehicle and having a forward edge depressed at suchtransverse axis and curving upwardly toward terminal ends for providinga pocketlike recess at such transverse axis for scooping air towardcenter of said airfoil.
 3. The windload applicator in accordance withthat of claim 2 in which said terminal ends are upturned slightly andextend equidistant laterally from such transverse axis thereof toward aposition forwardly of the front steerable wheels of such vehicle.
 4. Thewindload applicator in accordance with that of claim 2 in which saidmeans for pivotally mounting said airfoil comprises: a. a pair ofbrackets secured to said airfoil member in spaced relation equidistantfrom the transverse axis of the latter and extending rearwardly thereof:b. an angle clip having a depending leg pivotally connected to therearward extension of each of said brackets; c. bolt means on each ofsaid angle clips adapted to extend upwardly through holes provided inthe solid pan bottomed front end of the vehicle; and d. nut means withinthe trunk of the vehicle for securing said bolts to said solidpan-bottomed trunk.
 5. The windload applicator in accordance with thatof claim 4 in which said yieldable means comprises: a. apressure-regulated cylinder having its after end hingedly connecTed to afixed portion of the vehicle rearwardly of the front end thereof, b. apiston and piston rod guided within said cylinder with such piston rodextending forwardly of said cylinder; and c. means adjacent the forwardedge of said airfoil member for pivotally connecting the free end ofsaid piston rod thereto.
 6. The windload applicator in accordance withthat of claim 2 in which said yieldable means comprises: a. apressure-regulated cylinder having its after end hingedly connected to afixed portion of the vehicle rearwardly of the front end thereof; b. apiston and piston rod guided within said cylinder with such piston rodextending forwardly of said cylinder; and c. means adjacent the forwardedge of said airfoil member for pivotally connecting the free end ofsaid piston rod thereto.
 7. The windload applicator in accordance withthat of claim 6 in which said means for pivotally mounting said airfoilcomprises: a. a pair of arms secured to said airfoil member in spacedrelation equidistant from the transverse axis of the latter andextending rearwardly thereof; b. a pair of brackets secured to the solidpan-bottomed trunk front of such vehicle and pivotally connected to therearward extension of each of said arms on an axis transverse to thelongitudinal axis of such vehicle.
 8. The windload applicator inaccordance with that of claim 7 in which said yieldable means comprisesa spring means confined within said cylinder between the hinged endthereof and the piston therein.